Enclosure for landfill disposal site

ABSTRACT

A mobile screen enclosure for a landfill disposal site trench, to prevent paper and other light refuse from blowing about. The trench is bounded by parallel walls or mounds of dirt. A generally rectangular framework spans the trench and is supported on wheels which move on a track extending along the mounds, for the length of the trench. A screen covers the framework forming an enclosure of sufficient size to accommodate a truck delivering refuse and machine for compacting and covering the refuse. One end of the screen enclosure extends down into the trench and is provided with a door for passage of vehicles along the trench floor.

United States Patent [191 Triem [451 Jan. 2, 1973 and Processing, Inc.,P. O. Box 215, Chicago Heights, Ill. 60411 Leonard C. Triem, c/o TriemSteel Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen,Stellman & Mc- Cord 7] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1971 A mobile screenenclosure for a landfill disposal site [21] APPL 186,955 trench, toprevent paper and other light refuse from blowing about. The trench isbounded by parallel walls [52] US. Cl ..256/25, 256/26 0r mounds of i Age e ally rectangular framework [51] Int. Cl. ..E04h 17/16 pans th tr nh and is supported on wheels which [58] Field of Search ..256/24, 25,26, 32, 33; move on a track extending along the mounds, for the 119/20;160/135, 351 length of the trench. A screen covers the'framework formingan enclosure of sufficient size to accom- [56] References Cited modate atruck delivering refuse and machine for compacting and covering therefuse. One end of the UNITED STATES PATENTS screen enclosure extendsdown into the trench and is 1,293,335 2/1919 Chambliss ..256/24 providedwith a door for passage of vehicles along the 2,691,359 /1954 Anstiss etal ..256/25 X trench floor. 2,766,016 10/1956 Miller et a] r ..256/2l3,471,129 l0/ 1969 Mpakarakes ..256/25 X 13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 98 if: Q

t :1 w 7 15%; F 2: 26 25i PATENTED 2 I975 SHEET 3 0F 3 AN UN MKS.

ENCLOSURE FOR LANDFILL DISPOSAL SITE This invention is concerned with anenclosure for a landfill disposal site.

Generally, in a landfill disposal operation, a trench is dug and thedirt which is removed is mounded along the side. The trench is thenfilled with alternate layers of compacted refuse and soil until a finalgrade, often higher than the original level of the land, is reached.Paper and other light refuse blow about the trench and over the walls ormounds of dirt along the sides before it can be compacted and covered.Landfills are generally located in open country where winds blowunimpeded. The landfill site is usually surrounded by a fence, but itwill generally be only a few feet high, much lower than the moundeddirt, and papers often blow over the fence. Even where they are caughtby the fence, they are unsightly and must be collected by hand.

In order to alleviate this problem, my invention provides a screenenclosure within which refuse may be dumped, compacted and covered. Theenclosure extends over a portion of the landfill trench. Papers whichblow about cannot escape from the trench and it is not necessary thatthey be collected by hand. When the wind stops, the papers fall off thescreen into the trench and are subsequently covered. 7

One feature of the invention is the provision of an enclosure havingfirst and second supports, one on top of the wall or mound at eitherside of a landfill disposal trench with a framework spanning the trenchand extending lengthwise thereof. A screen covering on the frameworkforms an enclosure and at one end extends downwardly into the trench,substantially to the floor thereof. The screen covering at the other endof the enclosure extends downward substantially to the level of thefinish grade for the landfill site. As a section of the trench isfilled, the enclosure is moved along the trench to an unfilled section.

Another feature of the inventionis that a door is providedin the screencovering at one end .of the enclosure for the entrance and exit ofvehicles to the trench withinthe enclosure.

A further feature of the invention is that the supports include meansfor moving the enclosure longitudinally of the trench. 1

Yet another feature is that the length of the enclosure along'the trenchis greater thanthe horizontal extent of a slope which may be traversedby the compacting and covering machine, from the bottom of the trench tothe level of the finish grade.

And a further feature is the provision of a flexible skirt extendingdownwardly from the screen to prevent refuse from blowing out under theenclosure.

Further features and advantages of the invention will readily be seen,from the following specification and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. '1 isan end elevation of the enclosure, showing the trench intransverse section;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the enclosure and a portion ofthe trench, illustrating the filling operation;

FIGS. 3 through5 are a series of reduced longitu FIG. 7 is a fragmentaryenlarged end elevation illustrating the supporting wheels;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section illustrating the mounting of the door inthe end of the enclosure; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the screen.

The general nature of the enclosure which is the subject of thisinvention and its relation to the trench in which a landfill disposaloperation is carried out are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The trench 20has a floor 21 and generally parallel lateral side walls 22 and 23 whichmay be formed in part by dirt mounds 24 and 25 extending above theoriginal grade of the land, indicated by broken line 26. The trenchillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 will, when filled, have a finish gradeindicated at the level 28, at the top of mounds 24 and 25. In somecases, the finish grade may not be above the original land level, aswhen the landfill operation utilizes a workedout strip mine, clay pit orthe like.

The enclosure has a framework supported from the tops of the mounds 24and 25 as indicated generally in FIG. 1 at 31 and 32. The frameworkincludes horizontal or lateral members 33 and 34 extending dinal framemembers 34 and are joined by longitudinally extending laterally spacedroof members 36. Vertical members 37 join the longitudinal frameworkmembers 34 while vertical members 38 define the ends of the enclosureframework and extend downwardly into trench 20 at one end 40 of theenclosure. At the other end 41, the framework terminates at the level offinish grade 28. Diagonal framework members 42 provide additionalstrength for the framework.

The sides, end and top of the framework are covered with screen material43 forming an enclosure completely surrounding a portion of the trench20.

An opening 44 is provided in the enclosure end wall 40, within thetrench, to permit passage of trucks hauling refuse or dirt, or otherequipment as a tractor or the like to enter and leave the enclosure.Opening 44 is closed by a gate 45 slidably supported on the frameworkfrom an overhead track 46, FIG. 8, and guided'by achannel 47 at thebottom.

The supports 31 and32 for the enclosure provide for movement of theenclosure along the length of the trench 20. Concrete ribbons 50 on topof each mound 24 and 25 each support a rail 51. The framework of theenclosure is provided with spaced sets 52 of wheels 53 which carrytheentire structure on the rails, "FIGS. 6 and 7. The wheel sets 52 arejoined together by longitudinal framework members 34. Wheels 53 arepreferably provided with a double flange 53a to guide the enclosurealong the rails. A stop 54 at the end of the trench prevents theenclosure from leaving the rails.

The screen 43 which forms the enclosure is of a fine enough mesh tocatch and hold paper and other light refuse which might blow about inthe wind. It should not be so fine as to present a substantialresistance to wind which would impose heavy wind loads on the framework.Preferably the screening is an unclimbable wire netting illustrated inFIG. 9 having a mesh of the order of 2 inches wide and 4 inches high.With these dimensions, it is unlikely that children or others will climbon the enclosure. The screening may be electrically charged as with anelectrical fence energizer (not shown) to discourage people or animalsfrom climbing on the enclosure. Such a precaution is not necessaryduring the time the enclosure is in use, and the energizer need only beturned on when the landfill operation is closed. If the concrete ribbondoes not provide sufficient insulation for the enclosure, the screeningmay be electrically isolated from the framework by insulators.

It is preferable that the enclosure 30 be provided with a flexible skirt55 secured to the bottom of the framework as illustrated in FIG. 6, andextending downwardly into contact with the ground to prevent refuse fromblowing under the enclosure. Skirt 55 preferably extends along bothsides of the enclosure and along end wall 41, at the level of the finishgrade and is of a flexible material as screening, rubber or canvas, toaccommodate irregularities in the ground. If there is a problem withmaterial blowing under the portion of end wall 40 which extendsdownwardly into the trench, a skirt may be provided there also.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the operation of a sanitary landfillutilizing the enclosure of this invention. In FIG. 3, enclosure 30 is atthe far right end of trench 20. A truck 60 has just dumped a load ofrefuse 61 on the trench floor 21 and is leaving the enclosure. Therefuse 61 is compacted and covered with a layer of soil. This iscommonly done by a crawler tractor 62, FIG. 4, equipped with a bulldozerblade. FIG. 4 several layers of refuse and soil have been depositedwithin enclosure 30, filling trench 20 to the finish grade 28. When thishas been accomplished, enclosure 30 is moved to the left as shown inFIG. 5, to permit activity within an adjacent section of the trench.This procedure is continued until the trench is filled.

In a typical landfill disposal operation, a trench may have a width of100 feet and be several hundred feet long. A depth of IS to 20 feet iscommon. The length of enclosure 30 should be greater than the horizontalextent of a slope which may be traversed by the tractor 62 between thetrench floor 21 and the level of finish grade 28. This permits completefilling of the trench within theenclosure. The height of the enclosureabove the finish level shouldaccommodate at least the tractor 62 and ispreferably great enough to clear the truck 60. Where the trenchissufficiently wide, as I feet for example, several trucks may enter theenclosure at one time to dump their loads. The enclosure will alsoaccommodate one or two tractors spreading and'cornpacting the refuse anda suitable machine bringing in cover soil.

Where a disposal site has room for more than one trench, only one needbe provided with a mobile enclosure. This trench would be utilized fordumping only on windy days. At other times, dumping could be carried outin an open trench.

I claim:

I. An enclosure for a landfill disposal site having an elongated trenchwith a floor between two generally parallel walls, the trench beingfilled to a finish grade over a period of time with compacted layers ofrefuse and soil, comprising:

first and second supports one on top of the wall at either side of thetrench; a framework carried by said supports, spanning the trench andextending lengthwise thereof to define the outline of an enclosure; anda screen coverlng on said framework forming an enclosure to containblowing refuse, said covering at one end of the enclosure extendingdownwardly into the trench and substantially to the floor thereof, theenclosure being of sufficient size to accommodate a truck deliveringrefuse for disposal and a machine for compacting and covering therefuse.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 in which the screen covering in the otherend of the enclosure extends downwardly substantially to said finishgrade.

3. The enclosure of claim 2 in which the enclosure is generallyrectangular in horizontal cross-section.

4. The enclosure of claim 1 including an opening in the screen coveringof an end of the enclosure, for the entrance and exit of vehicles to thetrench within the enclosure, and a gate for closing the opening.

5. The enclosure of claim 4 in which said opening is in the screen atsaid one end of the enclosure and within said'trench for passage ofvehicles along the trench floor.

6. The enclosure of claim 4'in which said gate is a screen panelslidable laterally of the trench, generally in the plane of the screencovering at the end of the enclosure.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 in which said first and second supportsinclude means for moving the enclosure longitudinally of the trench.

8. The enclosure of claim 7 in which said moving means are wheels onwhich the enclosure is supported.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 having plural wheels spaced along theframework on each side of the trench.

10. The enclosure of claim 8 in which said wheels are flanged and thesupports include a rail at the top of the wall on either side of saidtrench and extending the length of the trench, the spacing between saidrails being the same along the length of the trench, and said wheelscarrying the enclosure on said tracks.

11. The enclosure of claim 2 in which the length of the enclosure alongthe trench is greater than the horizontal extent of a slope traversibleby said machine, from the bottom of the trench to the level of thefinish grade.

12. The enclosure of claim 2 having a height above the finishlevel'which is greater than the height of the refuse delivery truck orthe machine. v

13. The enclosure of claim 1, including a flexible skirt extendingdownwardly from the screen of the enclosure and toward the ground toprevent refuse from blowing under the enclosure;

1. An enclosure for a landfill disposal site having an elongated trenchwith a floor between two generally parallel walls, the trench beingfilled to a finish grade over a period of time with compacted layers ofrefuse and soil, comprising: first and second supports one on top of thewall at either side of the trench; a framework carried by said supports,spanning the trench and extending lengthwise thereof to define theoutline of an enclosure; and a screen covering on said framework formingan enclosure to contain blowing refuse, said covering at one end of theenclosure extending downwardly into the trench and substantially to thefloor thereof, the enclosure being of sufficient size to accommodate atruck delivering refuse for disposal and a machine for compacting andcovering the refuse.
 2. The enclosure of claim 1 in which the screencovering in the other end of the enclosure extends downwardlysubstantially to said finish grade.
 3. The enclosure of claim 2 in whichthe enclosure is generally rectangular in horizontal cross-section. 4.The enclosure of claim 1 including an opening in the screen covering ofan end of the encloSure, for the entrance and exit of vehicles to thetrench within the enclosure, and a gate for closing the opening.
 5. Theenclosure of claim 4 in which said opening is in the screen at said oneend of the enclosure and within said trench for passage of vehiclesalong the trench floor.
 6. The enclosure of claim 4 in which said gateis a screen panel slidable laterally of the trench, generally in theplane of the screen covering at the end of the enclosure.
 7. Theenclosure of claim 1 in which said first and second supports includemeans for moving the enclosure longitudinally of the trench.
 8. Theenclosure of claim 7 in which said moving means are wheels on which theenclosure is supported.
 9. The enclosure of claim 8 having plural wheelsspaced along the framework on each side of the trench.
 10. The enclosureof claim 8 in which said wheels are flanged and the supports include arail at the top of the wall on either side of said trench and extendingthe length of the trench, the spacing between said rails being the samealong the length of the trench, and said wheels carrying the enclosureon said tracks.
 11. The enclosure of claim 2 in which the length of theenclosure along the trench is greater than the horizontal extent of aslope traversible by said machine, from the bottom of the trench to thelevel of the finish grade.
 12. The enclosure of claim 2 having a heightabove the finish level which is greater than the height of the refusedelivery truck or the machine.
 13. The enclosure of claim 1, including aflexible skirt extending downwardly from the screen of the enclosure andtoward the ground to prevent refuse from blowing under the enclosure.